The Hale Center for Journalism at KCPT Ribbon Cutting

The Hale Center for Journalism at KCPT Ribbon Cutting

On Thursday, November 14, 2013, veteran journalist and author Jim Lehrer, PBS NewsHour’s Hari Sreenivasan, Joyce V. Hale and family and over 200 partners and supporters were on hand to launch The Hale Center for Journalism at KCPT.

The Hale Center for Journalism at KCPT is a multimedia center for journalism that will distribute local content through a variety of “channels,” including public television, public radio, the internet and social media. It’s goal is to cover the issues and stories of the Kansas City region in a comprehensive, in-depth and innovative way.

Building on KCPT’s existing team of television producers and reporters, The Hale Center for Journalism will add a bench of multimedia journalists skilled at developing stories for a variety of platforms. They will work side by side with web designers to create digital platforms for wider distribution and to implement new models of online journalism.

Viewers, listeners and readers will receive in-depth, thoughtful and ongoing coverage around areas that matter to Kansas Citians. Reporters will focus in the areas of education, health, arts and culture, science and sustainability and entrepreneurship. KCPT’s journalists will provide the region with an objective and deep source of information to help readers make informed decisions.

KCPT is also developing content partnerships to enhance and deepen its coverage and extend its reach. KCPT and the PBS NewHour are finalizing an agreement for the national broadcast of KCPT-produced stories. KCPT is also building partnerships with KCUR that will allow extended distribution of quality local content.

Meet the Reporters:

Todd Feeback, Managing Editor
Todd joined KCPT in May of 2013 as a reporter/producer covering health. Prior to joining the KCPT family, he worked as a video journalist and photographer at The Kansas City Star where he covered everything from the Joplin tornado to the Chiefs. He also contributed to several long-term award-winning investigative projects; most recently about the beef industry. A life-long resident of Kansas City, Todd is very excited to be at KCPT producing stories about health. In his free time, he blogs about growing heirloom tomatoes.

Lindsey Foat, Education Reporter
Lindsey regularly refers to herself in third person, although not while she is reporting on education and various topics for KCPT. She hails from Colorado and attended journalism school at the University of Missouri – Columbia. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: community engagement, history, kitsch, public media, and cats.

Kyle Geary, Entrepreneurship Reporter
Kyle started at KCPT as an intern in the public affairs department but quickly rose to the rank of reporter, with his main focus being entrepreneurship. He graduated from the University of Missouri– Kansas City, where he studied journalism and was the news director for the student radio station. When he is away from his desk he spends his time with his girlfriend Rachel and their dog Oliver. He enjoys craft beers, farmer’s markets, and three item lists.

John McGrath, Science and Environment Reporter
John has a lot to say, and isn’t shy about rambling on about some story he finds wildly entertaining. He does his best to make sure that it has a point, or at least he thinks so.

He hails from Ottawa, KS and attended the University of Kansas where he majored in film. A filmmaker since the age of ten, John has written and directed a number of short films and is always eager to share. If it’s film related, he’s your go-to guy.

With over fifteen years experience in journalism at two local television stations, he is eager to lend his skills to The Hale Center for Journalism, covering everything Science and Environment related.